Seat structure for mounting on the roofs of motor cars and the like



July 12, 1960 L. M. J. BALFOUR 2,944,539

SEAT STRUCTURE FDR MOUNTING ON THE ROOFS 1 OF MOTOR CARS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2, 1958 INV EN-TOR LIONEL M. LBRLFOUR BY wmw m JWM, 0/030 A-r-roauev L. M. J.

July12 1960 BALFOUR 2,944,589 SEATSTRUCTURE FOR MOUNTING ON THE ROOFS OF MOTOR CARS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2. 195a INVF-NI'OR LIONEL. M. J. BALFouR BY t6 iTTORNEY- States Unite SEAT STRUCTURE FOR MOUNTING ON. THE oors OF MOTOR CARS ANDTHE LIKE I Joachim Balfour, The Folly Clavenage Lane, Tetbury, England x Filed Sept. z 1958, sq. N .'7ss,sc9

Lionel Maxwell Claims priority,

4Claims. c1; 155-5 seat assemblies for mounting on the roofs of automobiles andthelike. a 5

General-types of seat-supportingstructure with which the inventionis concerned are disclosed in-the present applicants United States patent-applications" Serial No. 454,262 filedSeptember :7, 1954, now Patent No.=2,853,-

1.19, and Serial No. 746,910 filed July 7, 1958..

application Great Britain- Sept.13, 19 57 I atent Patented July 12, 1960 ice 13 and a rear main frame member 14 each of which consists of two lengths of tube secured together end to end by spigot and socket connections 15 and 16 provided with looking pins 17 and 18. The frame also has two end This invention relates ,to fseat-supporting structure and l 15 19 and 20 isan arm 26, the position of which in the end It is anobject of the invention to providean improvedform of seat for such an assembly which is of simple and inexpensive-construction.

Another object is to provide aseat which can-be detachably connected to the seat-supporting structure in a simple yet finn'manner. I A V V i i i It is afurther object of the invention to provide a seat assembly which can readily be folded into a small compass. I II A still further object is to provide a seat which is both robust and light in weight. I

Yet another object of the invention is; to provide positive locking means for tubular mainframemembers; of the seat-supporting structure to prevent rotation of these;

on the main frame members 13 and 14 to provide a rigid,

frame structure. a

, The end frame members 19 and 20 have legs 22, the rear legs being splayed out rearwardly to provide an extended base forjthe structure and to eliminate any tendency to tilt over backwards. .Into the bottom of each leg 22 is screwed a threaded member 23, the lower'end of which is supported by. a pad 25 whichrestson theflank of the roof 11, i.e. the part of the roof adjacent the edge thereof where it is strongest.

Adjustably mounted'in each of the end frame members frame member is adjustable by means of a clamping screw similar to the screws 21 and which is not visible in the drawing. Through the outer end of each arm 26 passes an anchorage member comprising a screwed rod 28 provided at its lower end with a hinged hook 29. The

hook is' adapted to fit under the edge lip 30 of the roof 11 at a door aperture, and by screwing down a wing nut 31 on the rod 28 the frame is rigidlyheld on-theroo-f 11.

The arm 26 is disposed at a lower levelthan the main frame tubes 13 and 14 so as toprovide a clearance for the wing nut 31 beneath the outermost seats.

' Disposed at uniform intervals along the frameare formed in the front and rear main frame members 13 members under the influence of turning-forces appliedto these'inembers by the seat or seats".

The invention achieves the above objects byiproviding the seat or seats with pins which fit detachably into holes in' one of the main frame memberSQ'and means, which may be pins alsoyfor attachmenttothe other main frame member. r

The positive locking of the tubular main frame mem- 15ers against rotation is conveniently achieved by arm rests provided with pins which fit detachably into holes ments, said embodiments being shown in the accompanying drawings wherein; I I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form ofseat structure embodying the invention,showing twoseats in position 'and illustrating alternative Ways-in which these seats may-be erected;

Figure 2 is a front view showing thevarious parts of i one of these; seats;

Figure 3 is a view of the same seat. inits collapsed condition; 7 j v I Figure 4 is a-detail showing an alternative form'of I locking means for one of the main frame members; and

Figure 5 shows yet'another form of locking means. The seat-supporting structure shown in Figure 1 comprises a supporting frame 10 which extends transversely and 14. The pins 43 of the two outermost arm rests are threaded at their extremities and are fitted with-wing nuts 44. Such wing nuts are not necessary on the three dinner arm rests. These arm rests perform the functions of increasing the comfort of the users of the seats, facilitating their movement from one seat to another, and also in these members. Other forms of positive locking are across the roof 11 of a-motor car andrwhich isadap'ted I to carry four seats 12, only two of which are shown in Figure 1. The frame 10 consists of a front main frame member of preventing rotation of the front and rear mainframe members 13 and 14 in the bosses 40 and'41. Although thesebosses are provided with clamping screws 21"these' provide merely frictional engagement with the main frame tubes and unless they were screwed upvery tightly might not be adequate to prevent rotation of the tubes.

- Each portion of the tubes 13 and 14 which lies between two arm rests is provided with holes 45 adjacent these arm rests. These holes provide the means whereby the seats are attached to the frame. The holes 45' in the rear main frame member 14 are-approximately vertical whereasin the front main frame member 13 areinclined forwards at an angle of, say, 45 I i I Eachseat consists oftwo upright back connected-to them adjacent their lower ends a lower cross bar 49. The front'of each seatis formedv by a front' cross member '50, the ends of which arebent downwardly and are provided 'with pins.51 which fit into'the-fon. wardly inclined. holes 45 in the front .main framemem her 13. A seatweb 52 of flexible fabric is attached to theupper cross bar 48.and also to the front cross mem her 50. This :seat. web can be passed in front either: 7 lower cross bar 49 to form a hammoc-ketype seat as shown I 0 in the case of the right-hand seat in Figure 1. Alternatively, it can be passed behind the lower cross bar 49 to .1... arm rests 42. These arm rests are provided with; down: wardly-extending pins 43 which fit detachably into holes supports. 46 haying'projecting downwardly from their lower ends'pins' 47 which fit detachably in the holes 45 in vtheirear frame member 14. Pivotallyiconnected to the back supports "46 at their upper ends is an uppercrossbar 48, andpivotally:

provide a seat havinga distinct seat and back portions as shown in the case of the left-hand seat in Figure l. The forward inclination of the holes 45 in thefront main frame member 13 and the consequent forward inclination the nt ro s member 50 have the. effects of. incre s ing the effective length of the seat portion of the web 5.2. and also of preventing inadvertent, withdrawal o the front cross member. When the seat has been removed from the frame, the back can be collapsed by pivotin'g'the cross bars about, the pivotal connections, as shown in ig 3, t e eat web; thenbeing wrapped, ro nd h collapsed back. as shown in the upper. part of Figure 3.

In the arrangement so far deseribed'thearm res s 2. Pro i e helocking me ns for prevent ng rotation. o the tubular front and rear main frame members l3 and 14 t is po le, h w t ispense ith the arm. re s and P o d h r l ck ng m ans. On h l ck ng a s s shown in Figure 4., In this case the rear frame member 14A is provided with several holes 54 disposed in different positions along the tube, the clamping screw 21 in the boss 41 being screwed in far enough to enter one of these holes. By providing several such holes the distance between the endframe members 19 and 20 can be adjusted. Similar locking means may be provided for the front main frame member if desired.

Another form of locking means is shown in Figure 5. In this case a collar 55 is secured to the tubular member 14 adjacent to the boss 41, and has an extension piece 56 which limits rotation of the tube by engaging a portion of the end frame member 1 9. The collar 55 is provided with a set screw 56 which can be screwed very tightly against the tubular frame member 14 with the aid of a spanner. Once the correct'adjustment hasbeen made, this collar can remain permanently in place, since it does not have to be removed when dismantling the frame structure.

It will be appreciated'that various other forms of seat construction may be employed. For instance, a rigid back frame may be provided, consisting of two upright back supports rigidly connected together by an upper cross bar, and if desired by a lower cross bar also. Also,

the seat may be'provided with rigid side members, rigidlyconnected together by a front cross member and pivoted to a rigid back so that the seat can be folded flat. In

this case, the pins which fi'ts into the front main frame stops which engage the upright members of the seat backso that the force applied to the seat back when the occupant leans against it is resisted by the side frame members instead of by the rear main frame member 14.

A seat having rigid side members has the further advantage that it can be provided with legs which enable it to be used independently of the seat-supporting frame 10. These. legs may be detachable. 'Insu'ch a case they may be provided with bored bosses into which fit the down wardly projecting pins of theseat. Such detachable legs may be crossed and pivoted together at the point of intersection, and the legs for the two sides of the seat may, if desired, be connected together by cross bars. Alternatively, separate front and rear legs may be provided. There. may be four separate legs, or separate pairs of front'le'gs and rear legs connected together by cross bars. Another way of connecting detachable legs to the seat is to provide the legs: with clamping devices which engage the rigid side members of the seat. legs may be permanently attached to the seat frame, for instance by pivotal connections, the lengths and arrange-. ment of the legs being such that when the seat is mounted Alternatively, the.

on the supporting frame 16 the legs fold away unobtrusively. V

In some arrangements in which the seat has rigid side frame members, the arm rests 42 may be dispensed with, since the side frame members of the seats fix the positions of the pins and so prevent rotation of the front and rear frame members 13 andlli.

. In a further form of the invention the seat is attached to one of the main frame members, preferably the rear main frame member, by pins in the manner described, while, it is attached to the other main frame member by, for instance, a hook which hooks onto this member, or a saddle which fits over this member. 7

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letter Patent i J I I H 1. A seating structure fo r mounting on the roof of an automobile, comprising a front transverse main frame member, a rear transverse main frame member, each of said main frame members being tubular, of circular cross section, and having a plurality of diametrically aligned pairs ofholes-therein, two end frame members each provided with transverse bores of circular cross section which receive said front and rear main frame members and hold said front and rear main frame members parallel at a fixed distance apart, supporting means to snppo'rt said end frame members on said roof, anchor-ingmeans connected to said end frame members fordetachable eon nection to roof side ledges to hold said structure on said roof, at least one seat comprising a back portion provided with downwardly extending pins each detachably received in one of said pairs of holes in said rear. main frame member, a seat portion attached to said back irzortio'r'l,

and supporting means for said seat portion detachably engaging said front main frame member, and a plurality of arm rests each having a front end and a-rear end and pins extending downwardly from said ends detachably received in a pair of said holes. in said front and rear main frame members, respectively, said arm rests provid ing positive locking means. preventing rotation ofsaid main frame members in said bores of said end frame members.

2. A seating structure according to claim 1 in which said cross bar extends between said upper ends of said back supports and in whichthere is a second cross bar extending between saidback supports adjacent said lower endsthereof, and said seat web isof sufficient length to. pass behind said second cross bar when said seat is mounted on said front and rear main frame members.

3. A seating structure according to. claim 2, having pivotal connections between said cross bars and said back supports permitting. foldingof said seat,

4. A seating structure according toeiaim'l wherein. said back portion of said seat comprises tWO upright baolgsupports, eachhaving an upper end anda lower end, and a cross bar connecting said upright back supports, said p projecting ownward from the lowe endsofsa tl p gh a k. uppo t said. suppo ting m ans for said Seat Portion. c mpr se a f ont c oss memberhaving two ends and pins projecting downwardly from said ends of aid frontcros memb ea h of; said la =me nedrin ei de a bly e ed n n o a d Pairs of holes, i -said front m n r m m mb and-wher in s uds portion comprises a seat web extending; between sa d ross bar and sa d om ros m mber- M ..,......d! i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,944,589 July 12, 1960 Lionel Maxwell Joachim Balfour It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and'that the said Letters Patent should read as correct-ed below.

line 7, date In the heading to the printed specification,

of priority, for "Sept. 13, 1957 read Sept. 3,

Signed and sealed this 25th day of April 1961.

(SEAL) Attest: I

DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer 

